Attorney for Wilmington 10 recounts troubled time in city

Thursday

Oct 28, 2010 at 10:29 PM

By Matt TomsicMatt.Tomsic@StarNewsOnline.com

Amid a standing ovation Thursday night, an attorney who defended the Wilmington 10 walked out of a middle school auditorium, leaving its audience with the story of the 10's wrongful conviction and imprisonment of more than nine years.James Ferguson spoke during a History of Wilmington in Black and White course, sponsored by the YWCA. The event was held in the auditorium of Williston Middle School.During the course, Ferguson recounted the story of the Wilmington 10, taking the audience to February of 1971, when gunshots, fire and chaos ravaged Wilmington.The conflict began with school desegregation, Ferguson said. Students from Williston Senior High, an all-black school, were transferred to New Hanover and Hoggard high schools. Ferguson said the African-American students felt isolated and alone in their new schools. The community began a school boycott with the help of the Rev. Ben Chavis, a black activist. The students and community members set up in Gregory Congregational Church. Violence escalated, Ferguson said, as people shot at the church and set fire to dozens buildings. Young black men were shot and wounded by whites, and a 17-year-old was killed by police in an alley, said Timothy Tyson, who spoke earlier in the class and authored "Blood Done Sign My Name," a book in part about that time in Wilmington."Wilmington was in trouble at that time," Ferguson said.After the chaos somewhat calmed, officials "decided they were going to do something about it," Ferguson said.They arrested and charged Chavis and nine others with arson and other counts in the fire bombings."They did not have on iota of physical evidence to connect them (to the fires)," Ferguson said.The trial started in 1972. Ferguson said prosecutors gave rewards to witnesses who testified against the Wilmington 10, and a biased jury was picked."They were selecting the jury and putting in a jury not that would be fair, but that would convict," Ferguson said. "And so the Wilmington 10 was convicted by a jury constituted of people who indicated they couldn't be fair."The defense attorneys appealed to the North Carolina Supreme Court, which upheld the convictions. The defense then appealed through the federal courts. Amnesty International acted, declaring the Wilmington 10 were political prisoners. Four years later, a court overturned their convictions.Matt Tomsic: 343-2070On Twitter.com: @MattToms